The fleet grows

[68C15]

for the last few years I've been thinking of downsizing my wife's car. She has a 99 Tahoe and we just don't need something that size anymore. I'm also toying with the idea of downsizing the boat. We don't use it as much on big water. And it's getting to be a hassle. I just want to be able to pop into some smaller lakes, ones with crude or even no ramp at all. Something in the 14' range in a V hull aluminum with small engine.

Combine the new boat needs with not needing a full size SUV has put me in search mode. Being biased towards Honda I was looking at a CRV but the prices are scary. My next option is a Ford Escape. Those are closer to my price range but I've never got serious about it. Just been keeping my eyes open for a deal.

Then on Friday I found a screaming deal. A customer brought in his blue 2005 Escape for a complaint of right front wheel toe out. The guy next to me brought it in and found the "K" frame that the control arms mounts to is rusted clear through. After they figured parts and labor the customer said he will just sell it for junk. My ears perked right up.

I made a few calls and found a good frame for $100. The labor time is 7.1 hours, I can probably do it in 4. I went over the car with a fine tooth comb, no other structural rust. It's got 162,000 miles and a near new set of decent tires all around. Just a couple stains on the seats, no biggie for me. By this time the customer was gone and I tried calling him with no answer.

The other tech had parked it outside while I finished what I was doing on another car. That's when I went outside to look it over a bit more. Wouldn't you know it, the customer pulled up to get his daughter's possessions out of it and take plates off. I chatted with him for a bit and asked if he was interested in selling it to me. He called scrap guy's from the paper and was quoted $86/ton. I tossed him an offer for $200 and he took it. Next weekend I'll be swapping the frame if anyone want to come help.

Then I called my wife, reluctantly. I laid out my plan. She can drive the Accord and I'll drive the Escape. We'll sell the Tahoe and boat, then buy a smaller boat. She said, and I quote, "That sounds good except for one small problem. I'll be driving the Escape, not you". Oh crap! At least it will be easier to walk around this than the Tahoe in the garage. But she said I do get to use it for hunting. I suppose I better look for a blood trapping cargo mat.

Who wants to buy a 99 Tahoe and/or 1969 Alumacraft Jamaican 15' boat with Mercury 50hp?

Oh, one more thing. I told a friend about this. He said the guy who parks his 14' aluminum V hull boat in his lakehouse garage is ready to sell, cheap